Mayor Joe Hogsett, Rethink Coalition Announce $2 Million USDOT Grant Award

On February 28, 2023 Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett, Congressman Andre Carson, the Rethink Coalition, and the Indy Chamber announced a $2 million (with local matches bringing the amount to $2.75million) US-DOT grant for a planning study around the southeast leg of I-65/I-70 of the downtown Inner Loop. [Press Release Link] The study, kicking off later this summer and lasting for a year, will look at how we reconnect neighborhoods at our southeast gateway divided by the original interstate pathway. Rethink partnered with the City on the application and collected letters from 65 Supporters, including HUNI, representing the diversity and depth of community interest in the study.

The federal grant study will parallel IN-DOT’s ProPEL Indy study announced last summer and kicking off soon. That study will involve community discussions about what will happen with our highway infrastructure inside I-465 over the next generation, including the Inner Loop. HUNI’s voice—all voices—need to be part of both conversations. Rethink Coalition will be working to facilitate your involvement, ensuring everyone knows how to participate in these two key initiatives.

It’s time for new thinking as cities like ours all over the country are figuring out how best to knit urban areas divided 50 years ago back together and release amazing potential for future generations. Recessing the interstates and eliminating the walls and barriers the Inner Loop has created is the best way to do that. We must make Central Indiana a place people want to live, work, and visit. For background and detail, go to www.rethink65-70.org.

For more information on North-Split traffic updates, and project schedule or to sign up for weekly informational email,  visit northsplit.com.